I hope our Winter 2009 MCWA newsletter finds you well, and looking forward to the new year. There are so many achievements to be proud of this past year! Watershed stewards throughout Frederick County have continued to enhance properties with tree planting projects, conservation easements, livestock stream fencing and more. This quarter, you can read about watershed steward Jeff Long's reforestation efforts and other recent restoration successes including: rain gardens installed by youth volunteers, school tree planting and habitat improvement projects, and continued urban wetland monitoring and enhancement.

The upcoming year looks promising for further restoration and protection of the County's valuable natural resources. The County is leading a number of initiatives, including: a collaborative effort with watershed partners to develop a County-wide Green Infrastructure Plan; energy efficiency retrofits for county buildings; a new Draft Plan for the Countywide Comprehensive Plan; and support for forest planting projects using County fee-in-lieu monies.

We are fortunate that there are a number of grant programs currently accepting proposals for restoration projects. You can find a list of grant opportunities here.

There are also many educational resources currently available for those interested in improving watershed health. Potomac Conservancy recently released its "State of the Nation's River Report" which focuses on endocrine disruptors in the Potomac River and its tributaries. The Center for Watershed Protection and Forestry for the Bay have both developed resources for citizens interested in forest management and urban watershed forestry. High School students wanting to pursue college studies or careers in natural resources can apply to attend the Natural Resource Careers Conference held in July in Garrett County. And folks interested in learning more about invasive plant species can participate in the January 16 workshop offered by the Carroll County Forestry Board.

As always, please refer back to our MCWA Calendar often for regular updates on conferences, workshops, volunteer opportunities, grant programs, and much more.

Happy New Year... !

Heather Montgomery
Community Restoration Coordinator